In the realm of stadium makeovers, patience and optimism are indispensable qualities. Back in 2017, 1. FC Union unveiled plans for rebuilding the An der Alten Försterei arena, with an anticipated completion date of 2020. Fast forward to 2023, and that original timeline still seems like a pipe dream - no excavator has made an appearance.
But there's a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Union's executives dream of a (partial) opening as early as 2026. However, the initial conversion plans will transform into a new construction; three sides will be demolished and rebuilt, with the main stand being the sole surviving structure.
Dirk Zingler, the club's CEO, assured stakeholders during October's general meeting that the renovation process will kick off in July 2025. This ambitious project, however, has some conditions attached - a functional streetcar stop must be in place when the stadium opens. A streetcar stop is part of a larger project, the 'Westumfahrung Bahnhofstraße,' planned to be built at some point in An der Wuhlheide/Rudolf-Rühl-Allee junction.
Good news, the stadium opening is not contingent upon this project. Berlin's Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing confirmed that the two projects are independent. The completed stadium can officially open, even if the 'Westumfahrung Bahnhofstraße' project is yet to be finished.
Unfortunately, the construction of the bypass might not begin next year; at least two years are required for a planning approval procedure. Besides, the public participation process scheduled for December 2023 might attract objections, delaying the project further.
To accommodate 37,000 fans during the renovation, temporary solutions like bus shuttles could be implemented. Modest transit solutions, like bus shuttles, were employed during rail replacement services for a couple of recent home games, and could be the standard mode of transportation for fans visiting the Alte Försterei in the future.
Despite initial plans for completion in 2020, the rebuilding of 1. FC Union Berlin's An der Alten Försterei stadium has yet to begin. Expectations are that the stadium renovation will commence in July 2025, prioritizing a functional streetcar stop for the stadium opening. Three of the four stadium sides will be demolished and rebuilt during this process, with the main stand being the sole remaining structure. The completed rebuilt An der Alten Försterei stadium can open independently of the "Westumfahrung Bahnhofstraße" project, presumably in 2026. Transportation changes, such as the use of bus shuttles, will be necessary for managing fan traffic during this period.
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Enrichment Insight: Stadium renovation typically takes several years to complete, depending on the scope of the work. Dignity Health Sports Park in California, for instance, is scheduled for an overhaul with Phase 1 set to wrap up by February 2025 and the entire renovation project slated to end by 2027. However, every renovation project faces unique challenges, and completing the job within the stipulated time frame is reliant upon careful planning, effective project management, and sufficient funding. In the case of the An der Alten Försterei stadium, with plans to open it by 2026, the feasibility of finishing within the time frame remains uncertain without specific details about the project's scope, timeline, and potential challenges.
